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Strain-mediated magnetoelectric effect for the electric-field control of magnetic states in nanomagnets

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Abstract

Electric-field control of magnetism without electric currents potentially revolutionizes spintronics toward ultralow power. Here, by using mechanically coupled phase field simulations, we computationally demonstrate the application of the strain-mediated magnetoelectric effect for the electric-field control of magnetic states in a heterostructure. In the model heterostructure constituted of the soft nanomagnet Co and the piezoelectric substrate PMN–PT, both the volatility of magnetic states and the magnetization switching dynamics excited by the electric field are explored. It is found that an electric field can drive the single-domain nanomagnet into an equilibrium vortex state. The nanomagnet remains in the vortex state even after removing the electric field or applying a reverse electric field, i.e., the vortex state is extremely stable and nonvolatile. Only by utilizing the precessional magnetization dynamics, the 180\(^\circ \) magnetization switching is possible in small-sized nanomagnets which are free of the stable vortex state. Electric-field pulses can realize the deterministic 180\(^\circ \) switching if the electric-field magnitude, pulse width, and ramp time are carefully designed. The minimum switching time is found to be less than 10 ns. These results provide useful information for the design of low-power, reliable, and fast electric-field-controlled spintronics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanics of Functional Materials Division, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Min Yi & Bai-Xiang Xu

  2. Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of Kaiserslautern, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Ralf Müller

  3. Division of Solid Mechanics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Dietmar Gross

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  1. Min Yi
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Yi, M., Xu, BX., Müller, R. et al. Strain-mediated magnetoelectric effect for the electric-field control of magnetic states in nanomagnets. Acta Mech 230, 1247–1256 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00707-017-2029-7

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